Store-service apparatus



(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. T. COWLEY.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

N0. 391,027. Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

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8 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. T. COWLEY. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

wmooaal W (No Model.) 7 3" Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. T. COWLEY. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

N0. 391,027. Patented 001:. 16, 1888.

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N. PETERS. Moww mr. Washington, 0. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. COWVLEY, OF LOWELL, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.391,027, dated October 16, 1888.

Application filed March 2, 1887.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, Massachusetts, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements in StoreService Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to that class of cashcarrying apparatus for stores in which the carriers are propelled by an initial impetus imparted by a propelling device; and my invention consists in constructing the propeller as fully set forth hereinafter, and in the arrangement of parts intended to increase the efiEir ciency of the apparatus.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal elevations of one line of way and ap purtenances, illustrating my invention. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, enlarged, mainly illustrating the propeller. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken below the bar 18, Fig. 1, showing the car, its way, and connections in plan view. Fig. 5 is a View illustrating a modification. The way A is inclined or horizonal and of any material and construction. As shown, it is a horizontal wire stretched taut between terminal supports, and may constitute one of a series of ways, all extending from the central desk or station, X, to the counters, as usual. WVith each way, at one or both ends, I com bine a propelling device, whereby the cashier or salesman may readily impart to the car from his station below the way an impetus sufficient to direct the car to the opposite end of the way,from which it is returned,when desired, by means of a like propelling device, or by gravity or otherwise. One feature of said propelling device is a slide, B, and this slide, or the car O, carries a catch whereby the two may be temporarily connected, but which is released when the car is impelled forward. As shown, the slide B is provided with a pivoted catch-arm, 2, having a beveled end and a shoulder, 3, which automatically engages with a shoulder, 4, on the car when the latter strikes the slide, a spring, 5, bearing on a flat face, 6, of the pivoted end of the arm 2 and tending to hold it in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Serial No. 229,429. (No model.)

It will be evident that the catch may be on the car and the shoulder on the slide. The catch couples the car and slide automatically when they are brought together, and holds them so connected until a sudden forward movement is imparted to the slide, when the catch is withdrawn and the car released to move forward freely under the impulse re ceived. Different catch-releasing devices or appliances will occur to any one skilled in the art. For instance, a cord, 90, (dotted lines,Fig.

1,) may be connected to the catch-arm and to any suitable support, as 7, in such way as to pull down the arm when the slide moves forward beyond a limited extent. Iprefer, however, to employ a stop, 8, shown as a rectangular frame retained in position below the way by the pendent support 7,and a dog,9, pivoted to the arm 2 to swing freely'and pass over the stop on the backward movement of the slide when struck by the incoming car, but engaging with and swinging the catch as the dog .contacts with the stop on the forward movement of the slide, thus carrying the catch-arm to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The arm 2 is provided with a flat face, 9', at an angle to the face 6, so that when the arm is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the pressure of the spring 5 on said facet) will hold said arm in its downward position; but the stop 8 is so arranged that as the slide is drawn back the arm will contact with the stop and be swung until the spring begins to bear on the face 6, when it will act to fully lift the arm to its horizontal position. After the slide has been carried to the position shown in Fig. 3 a sudden movement of the slide forward brings the dog 9 against the stop 8 and swings the catch down to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus releasing the car, which shoots forward under 0 the impulse imparted to it. On the return movement the car strikes the slide, (a rubber buffer, 10, preventing noise and wounding of the parts,) and the shock will throw up the catch, so as to instantly couple the car and 5 slide together; but in case the sudden stopping of the slide has not returned the catch to the position shown in Fig. l the contact of the catch with the stop 8 will insure the coupling.

It will be seen that as the propellingspring IOO is connected to the slide there is no strain on the car when the propellingspring is distended.

Different means of imparting the desired movements to the slide may be employed. Thus a retractor may be used consisting of a cord, 12, connected to the slide and passing over a guide-pulley, 13, and provided with a handle, 14, hanging in position to be readily seized by the operator to carry the slide back, and a propeller by another cord, 1;, extending from the slide forward around a guide-pulley, 22, and back and over another guide-pulley to the operators station, will serve as a means of imparting the forward movement to the slide. I prefer, however, to store up a power sufficient to impart a quick forward impulse to the slide by the back movement of the latter, by the raising of a weight, W, Fig. 5, or, preferably, by the distention of a spring, which obviously is the equivalent of the weight.

A means which I have found in operation most effective is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, and consists in connecting the slide to one or more springs, 23, (two elastic cords being shown,) secured to suitable supports at the forward end and yielding under the backward movement of the slide. When the slide is carried back by the contact of the incoming car, the springs serve to gradually reduce the movement of the slide without any sudden shock. When the slide is carried back by means of the retract ing device, the car is carried with it and the springs are distended, and when the retracting device is releasedfor instance, when the operator releases the handle 1etthe spring will quickly react, throw the slide outward with a sudden impulse, and, the catch being released as the arm 2 moves over the stop 8, the car will be shot forward free from connection with the slide, and be thus propelled to the opposite end of the way.

The extent to which the spring or springs may be distended is determined in the structure shown by the position of the stop Sand its support, which limit the rearward movement of the slide, and the support is therefore adjustable to permit the tension to be varied according to the extent to which or the speed at which the car is to be propelled. As shown, the support 7 is a hanger secured to a sleeve, 16, movable on a horizontal bar, 18, and secured by a nut, 17, and said bar 18 is forked at the outer end to support the ends of the spring-cords 23 23. The bar 18 is supported at the inner end by a hanger, 19, which sup ports also the guide-pulley 13, as shown.

To facilitate the application of the spring or springs to the slide, I provide the latter with two ears, 20, receiving between them a tongue, 21, supporting a short curved tube or holder, 32, through which to extend a loop of elastic cord constituting the springs, or in which to attach the end of one or two springs, and I connect the tongue and ears by a transverse pin or screw, 33, to permit the attachment to be readily'disconnected to replace it by another of like character whenever a spring is strained or injured.

It will be evidentthat some of the features shown and described may be used without connection with all the others set forth.

Without, therefore, limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim- 1. In a cash-carrying apparatus, a way, a car supported thereby, a slide movable in line with the way against and by the force of a spring and provided with a catch for connecting with the car, and a stop for actuating the catch for releasing the car when the slide.

moves forward, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the way, a car, a slide mounted on the way and provided with a catch, a stop for releasing the catch as the slide moves forward, aslide-retractor, and apropeller, sub stantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a way, aslide mounted on the way, a car, slide-retractor extending to the operators station, a propeller, a catch, and a stop arranged to withdraw the catch as the slide moves outward, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the way, a car, a slide provided with a pivoted catch, an adjustable stop arranged to contact with the catch as the slide moves outward, a retractor, and a propeller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the way, a slide movable in line with the way against and by the force of a propeller, a car, a catch consisting of a lever pivoted to the slide, and a dog car ried by said lever, and a stop arranged to be struck by said dog, substantially as described.

ICO

6. The combination, with the slide, of a pivoted catch-arm provided with two faces, 6 9', and a spring, 5, arranged to bear on said faces to hold the arm in different positions, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the way, a slide, a slide-retractor, a catch, a stop arranged to engage with the catch as it moves outward, and a spring connected to the slide and at its forward end to a fixed support, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the slide, a pivoted catch-arm, a dog pivoted to said arm to swing freely in one direction, and a stop arranged to make contact with said dog, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the way, a slide, a spring, and a holder surrounding the spring connected detachably with the slide, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination, with the slide and its propelling spring, of a detachable curved sleeve carried by the slide and adapted to receive the propelling-spring, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the slide, of a catch pivoted thereto and adapted to be thrown into position to receive the carrier by the stopface, 9, for engagement with its spring, and a ping of the slide, and a spring for retaining it dog, 9, pivoted to said catch and adapted to in such position, substantially as described. i move idly in one direction, and when moved :5 12. The combination, with the slide, of a in the opposite direction to release the catch 5 catch for holding the carrier pivoted thereto 1 from a carrier, substantially as described.

and held in position by a spring, and a dog In testimony whereofI have signed my name pivoted to said catch and adapted,when struck, to this specification in the presence of two subto cause the catch to release the carrier, snbscribing witnesses.

stantially as described. JAMES T. COWLEY. IO 13. The combination, with the slide 13, hav- \Vitnesses:

ing means for retracting and propelling it, of O. V. LOOKE,

the spring-seated catch 2, having an inclined JENNIE STUART. 

